Atomizing stopper for liquids



July' 7, 1925.

en 5570/6/49 fg 1,545,102 T. .1. HOLMES Y 'ATOMIZING STOPPER PoR Lmums Filed April 30. 1921 2 SheetS-Sheev 1 m l A July 7, 1925.

.1'. J, HOLMES AToMIzING sToPPER FOR LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30. 1921 .Ill

Patented July 7, 1925i.

UNITED STATES THOMAS J. HOLMES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ATOMIZING STOPPER FOR LIQUIDS.

Application led April 30, 1921. Serial N'o. 465,892.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, THOMAs J. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, in the county ot Suiiolli and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Atomizing Stopper for Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to the'atomizers for producing line liquid spray ci the class which also serve as closures for liquid containers ory bottles.

The invention has for its object the production of a simple and convenient atomizing stopper which, when adjusted tor use, serves as a complete seal or closure to prevent leakage of the liquid `contents from the bottle, and which by a very simple adjustment may be adapted to produce a liquid spray oi any desired tineness. While the principal form of the invention herein shown is especially adapted 'for throat atomizers, the chief characteristic oit which type as shown is a long delivery tube or nozzle capable of being inserted well into the throat when in use, yet it will be understood that the invention is capable oic application to other forms oit' atomizers also.

Heretotore it has been proposed to construct a. throat atomizer oi this type with a rotatable plug having ports or passages through it adapted to register with passages in the stopper body on the principle of a gas cock` but it will be perceived that in such type of atomizers when the plug cock is turned the long tube for conveying the liquid to the nozzle remains filled with liquid which can leak out and do much damage to any articles packed with it in a trunk or traveling bag. It is characteristic of the present invention that when the adjustable atomizing tube is turned to closed position, no leakage of contents of the throat tube carrying the liquid is possible since it is sealed at the nozzle or outlet end.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises the combinationpic a stopper body provided with liquid-discharging and bottlc-venting passages so arranged that an internally located compressed air tube is arranged, when shifted to closing position, to close the nozzle Orifice and said passages in the stopper to completely seal the device against any possible leakage. This and other features of the invention will be described in the following specilication and will be defined in the claims hereto annexed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated several different forms embodying the principles of this invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a. central vertical section of a complete atomizer constructed in accordance with this invention of the type especially designed for spraying the throat.

Figure 2 is a detail view in cross section adjacent to the outlet nozzle.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section of a modi ed form of atomizing stopper adapted for use in spraying germicide or perfumery or the like.

Figure 4 shows a modified construction of throat atomizer in which the air bulb is connected to the body portion of the stopper instead of to the adjustable air tube member.

Figure 5 is a vertical section showing details of a modification.

In the practice of this invention according to the form shown in Figure 1, the stopper 2 is made with a hollow internally threaded cap 3 carrying a packing washer or gasket 4 and is adapted to be screwed upon the neck of a bottle 1 to form a stopper or closure therefor.

The head 5 or upper portion of the stopper is formed with a transverse bore 6 in which is secured, by solder or otherwise, a liquid-conducting tube 8 which forms a continuation of the liquid tube 19 which projects down toward the bottom of the bottle 1. This liquid discharging tube 8 is provided with a tapered outlet nozzle 9, through which the spray is delivered.

A compressed air pipe 13 has its rear end secured in a sleeve 12 which has screw threaded engagement at with the interior of the liquid tube 8 so that the air-delivering member is adjusted longitudinally as it is turned iu its screw threaded bearing. The sleeve has a knurled head 18 to 'facilitate its rotation by hand.

It will be observed that at its rear end the transverse bore 6 of the head 5 is tapered or flared to tit a corresponding taper 7 formed on the sleeve 12. It will also be noticed that at the delivery end the compressed air member or tube 13 is provided with a taper corresponding with the interior taper of the nozzle 14. These two tapered portions of the air tube are accurately spaced so that both will come into close contact simultaneously with the opposed tapered seats it'ornied in the tixed portion ot the aton'iizer or stopper.

A nozzle guide washerl vmay be inserted close to the nozzle to term a 'guide for the long internal tube 13, and iswprovided with one or more openings to freely admit the liquid to the discharge or spray nozzle.

An air-admitting duct leads in the tapered seat 7 at the rear ci the transverse bore to theinterior ot the bottle so as to form a bottle-venting passage when the atomizer is open for use. lt will be seen that this passage is closely scaled when the internally adjustable spray member is screwed tightly against its abutting tapered seat. At the same time all exit or escape or the liquid lfrom t-he tube 8 through Vthe nozzle is prevented vby a similar close contact between the tapered surfaces at the nozzle end. Hence the device is completely sealed when the interior adjustable n'iember is screwed up tightly against the stopper'. jin air-compressing bulb `2l secured to the rear end of the sleeve l2 affords compressed air for atomizing purposes. Y

Figure 3 shows in vertical section a modiiied 'form of atomizer in which the Ifixed stopper element 30 is provided with a downwardly extending cylindrical neck 31, bored to receive an eduction vtube 39 in its lower end and 'having communication adjacent to the discharge nozzle orifice Set at its upper end to allow the liquid vto llow through the nozzle when the tapered plug 37 is partly unscrewed to uncover this discharge duct.

The head or body portion 33 or the stopper is formed with a transverse internally screw threaded bore or passage which is termed with a conical surface adjacent to the discharge orifice 3a ot the nozzle. An adjustable threaded plug 37' lits into this transverse passage ot the head and `its conical end seats snugly against the conical `or -apered seat of the passage.a as shown at 35, to seal the liquid discharge passage against communication with the nozzle.

An air-venting vpas age d-O leads trom the bottom ot the neck 3l out through un enlarged conical seat 35 formed in the head 33 which is snug y engaged by a corresponding conical shoulder `termed on the screw plug valve Y The plug provided with a longitudinal passage or air duct 38 through which air may be 'forced by means oiQ the compression srir is supplied trom the exterior to the interior of the bulb by the diagonal passage or inlet duct '-l closed by a check valve l2 to prevent escape of air from the bulb in the reverse direction when the bulb is compref'sed. ifi cork bushing 32 servesto make a tight joint between the stopper and vthe bottle neck' in which it is inserted.

In the term of atomizer shown in Figure Il, instead of making provision for attaching the air-compressing bulb directly to the axially adjustable air tube, provision is made iior attaching the bulb to the fixed or body member oi the stopper through which the air is forced in to the central axial adjustabie tube member.

in this Aterm of the invention the bottle l has its neck closed by the stopper by a screw cap engagement as in the form shown in 'Figure l. The upward extension or head 5l oi the stopper body'is transversely bored, and has secured in the bore a lateral tubular extension forming a conduit for the liquid which is delivered through the .nozzle or spray cap 53 which in this instance is shown to have a screw-threaded connection with the tube 52 in order to secure axial adjustment thereof.

its rea end the bored head 5l is provided with a tapered seat as shown at 61, and a similar tapered seat is iormed on the intermediate rib or shoulder as shown at 65.

The stopper is provided with a liquiddischarge passage in the tube 66 which conducts the liquid through a port 67 in zto vthe outer tube 52. A vent passa-ge 62, when open, admits air from the outside to the interior ol? the bottle to maintain atmospheric pressure therein.

The stopper body is provided with a nipple 60 ior the attachment of any suitable form of compressed air bulb, and is formed with an air-conducting passage 59 leading to the screw-threaded portion ot the bore in the head 5l between the two tapered valve seats (il,I 65.

rlhe inner tube -is secured in the screwthreaded plug or sleeve 54; having tapered surfaces properly arranged to abut againstthe tapered seats 6l G5, respectively. The rear end ot the inner tube 55 is plugged or closed as shown at G3. The threaded connection at 58 between the adjustable cornpressed air tube and the interiorot the transverse bore in the stopper serves to effect an axial adjustment either tor the purpose ot opening the passages 6G and 62 communicating with the interior lot the bottle or for closing them when the atomizer not iu use.

r-lhe delivery end ot the adjustable air tube or compressed air member is termed with a taper as shown at 56 corresponding with the inside taper of the opposite portion of the spray nozzle cap. This permits an independent adjustment between the spray nozzle cap and theair tube so as to prevent leakage through the nozzle as in the case ot the terms illustrated in Figures l and 8.

lt will be observed that citer usi-ngr the atomizer with the inner` tube member adjusted to give the desired fineness ot sprejc. said inner .tube `member may be tightly ETP.)

screwed against the seats provided in the corresponding portions of the stopper body or lined member et the stopper, and tha in such case no leakage will occur even it the bottle be inverted through the air-venting and liquid discharge passages. Furthermore, in any form ot the invention, if after closing or sealing the stopper in the manner indicated there still remains a few drops ot liquid in the open end ci the nozzle, they can be completely removed by a single squeezing of the air bulb so as to leave the nozzle perfectly dry. The liquid contained in the long throat tube is sealed at the discharge end so that no leakage is possible. lt is: therefore,A sate paclr the atomizer containing its liquid contents by screwing the inner spray member lirmly against the stopper and blowing out any moisture or condensation that may still remain in the spray nozzle.

rlhe forni of atomiz'er shown in Figure 5 utilizes the same principle embodied in Figure d of connecting the air compressing bulb with the stopper body instead ot with the central compressed air tube as in Figure l, but di'i'iiers somewhat in detail of construction. In this form the stopper has an air inlet passage il l ned on the are oi' a circle to permit the use ot a single curved pin which can be easily' withdrawn from the die-cast .stopper-body instead oli using two angularly disposed pins to form this air passage as would be the case in the term or' Figure 4.

Moreover, the detachable screw plug 72 has only one tapered seat at "3 which engages a similar surface 'termed in the stopper body to close that end of the atomizer and prevent leakage through the bottleventing passage Tl. The inner central compressed air tube 75 is connected by means ot port 76 with the arc shaped air inlet passage 7l, and is sealed at the outer end et the internal tapered Contact with the external tube 77 in the manner illustrated in Figure l.

The screw plug is formed with a series of stepped portions of different diameter each provided with a comparatively short section. et screw thread so as to aiterd a longer screw-threaded engagement between tie plug and the bored head as shown at 75l, .79 and 80, while at the saine time making it necessary to give only a few turns to the screw to disengage it entirely from the internally screw threaded bore. At 8l 'this screw plug` JEcrins a cylindrical engagement with the surrounding wall ot' the transverse bore in the stopper so as to as sist in preventing leakage of the liquid from the tube 77 back into the air duct 7l. The discharge of liquid from the bottle in the case of the form shown in Figure 5 is through the liquid tubes 83 and 77.

What l claim is:

l. An atomizing stopper tor bottles enr bracing in combination a stopper member adapted to form a closure for the bottle and provided with bottle-venting and liquid-discharge passages to afford communication between the exterior of the stoppe;| and the interior of the bottle, and an axially adjustable spray-regulating member provided with an air duct for conveying compressed air to the spray nozzle at the discharge end ot the liquid passage, said axially adjustable member operating by its axial movement to cut oil communication between the interior of the bottle and the outer ports ot said passages in its sealing position oi adjustment and to open such communication when adjusted for atomizing` liquid, substantially as described.

2. An atomizing stopper for bottles embracing a stopper member constructed to. torni a bottle closure and provided with a liquid conduit in communication with the interior ot the bottle terminating in a spray delivery nozzle, said stopper having also vent duct for admitting outside air into the interior of the bottle in combination with an adjustable compressed air tube Jloi-med to close the nozzle end of said liquid conduit against the escape of liquid and the outer end of said air vent duct, said adjustable compressed air tube being located .inside said liquid conduit and nozzle, substantially as described.

3. An atomizing bottle stopper embracing a body member adapted to form a closure for a bottle, said body member being provided with liquid-conducting and airventing passages in communication with the interior of the bottle, and having an elon gated tubular extension provided with a nozzle for conducting liquid to the nozzle, and an axially adjustable compressed air tube mounted inside said tubular extension and adjustable axially therein for the purpose of cutting olf the flow of liquid through the nozzle while permitting air to be discharged therethrough, substantially as described.

l. An atomizing bottle stopper embracing in combination a body member adapted to form a bottle closure and provided with a liquid-carrying tube and an air venting tube having communication with the interior of the bottle, an elongated liquid conveying throat spraying tube formed with a contracted delivery nozzle, and an interior aX ially adjustable compressed air tube arrangedby its adjustment to close the throat spraying tube at its outlet end to prevent the escape of liquid, and means for closing an air-vent passage in said stopper when said liquid outlet is closed, substantially as described.

5. An atoinizing bottle stopper embracing a body member adapted to form a bottle closure and provided with an enlarged bore, an elongated tube mounted in said bore and terminating at its outer end in a spray delivery nozzle, an inner tube connected with a source ot compressed air and having its outer end tapered to cut oit the escape of liquid through the spray nozzle when axially adjusted, said compressed air tube being provided with a tapered valve surface arranged at its outer end to close a bottle-venting passage formed in the stopper, substantially as described.

(3. An atomizing bottle stopper embracing in its construction a body member adapted to forni bottle closure, two concentric projecting tubes mounted in said stopper Yone inside the other and having their deli\.f"ery ends `toi-med to provide a closure to prevent the escape ot liquid from the intermediate tubular space between said tubes, the inner tube having communication with a source of compressed air and being axially ,adjustable along the outer tube, guiding means interposed` between the two tubes near their discharge ends, the outer tube h ving coinmunication withY the interior ot the bottle in order to admit liquid therefrom 'for atomizing purposes, substantiallyy as i described'.

i". An atomizer for liquids embrac'ng in its construction a stopper body aeapted to i'orm a closure for a bottle, inner and outer elongated tubes supported by said body member, the latter tube being provided at its discharge end with a spray nozzle, and the inner tube being axially adjustable to close said nozzle against the escape or' liquid, aircompressing means having communication with the inner tube to Ytorce compressed air therethrough whether Athe nozzle is4 open or closed ior the discharge of liquid, said aircompressing tube being provided its rear end with a valve surface :tor closing the bottle-venting duct termed in the stopper bod y, substantially as described.

' S. An atomizer for spraying the throat or the like, embracing in its construction abody member adapted to Jform a bottle closure, an elongated liquid carrying tube secured in said stopper body andiprovided at its outer end with an adjustable nozzle, a compressed air tube mounted inside of said liquid carrying tube and having screwthreaded engagement with the stopper to secure axial adjustment, said compressed air tube beino provided with a plurality of tapered valve surfaces formed to seat against cooperating surii'aces et the bottle stopper mein er to close the passagesY therein in order to prevent the leakage of liquid from the bottle, substantially as described.

9. In an atomizing bottle stopper the combination of a stopper body provided with bottle venting and compressed air passages, an elongated outer tube having communicaw tion with a liquid supply tube, an inner air conveying tube, an adjustable screw plug having threaded engagement with the stopY per body and torn'ung an adjusting support lor said inner air tube, said outer and inner tubes and said screw plug and stopper rcspectively being provided with cooperating concentric surfaces to seal the device against leakage when screwed tightly together, silbstantially described.

l0. An atomizing stopper tor bottles embracing in combination, a bottle-closure member provided with liquid-discharge and bottle-venting passages, and a tubular airconducting member mounted interiorly of theouter portion ot the liquid-discharge passage and having annular faces arranged to cut ottq communication between the outer ports ot said passages whenA in one position ot arial adjustmentand to open external communication with the interior of the bottle when axially adjusted to atomizing position, substantially as described.

ll. An atomizing bott-le stopper einbracing in combination a body member provided with a bottle-venting duct and having concentric tubes leading to a liquid discharge nozzle, the inner tube having axial adjustnient to seal and unseal the outer ports of the bottle-venting duct and the outer tube which carries the liquid to the spray nozzle, and an annular washer secured to the inner tube so as to be interposed between the inner tube and the outer tube, substantially as described.

l2. An atomizing bottle stopper provided with a liquid-conducting tube terminating in a spray nozzle and having communication with the interior of the bottle, a concentric axially adjustable air-supply tube mounted inside said liquid tube to supply air to said nozzle for atomizing the liquid, and an annular member secured to the inner tube with Vits periphery iii Contact with the interior wall of the outer tube whereby the annular member is withdrawn through the outer tube by the withdrawal of the inner tube, substantially as described.

13. An atomizing` stopper for bottles and the like embracing a bottle-closure and liquid-delivery tube extending therefrom `and provided at its outer end with a spray nozzle, and an axially removable airsupply tube mounted inside said liquid tube and carrying a spacing washer on its exterior whereby the removal of the air-tube acts, through said washer, to clear out the liquid tube, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification. Y

` THOMAS J. HOLMES; 

